VF-Racing @ Rockingham
03 October 2011, 09:59 PM
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VF-Racing @ Rockingham
Vaughan Fletcher No:16 @Rockingham 2nd October 2011
The season has unfolded at such a pace, and now we end our “CT” year at Rockingham in Northamptonshire, on the “International Super Sports car Circuit”.
The most commonly used configuration combines long straights, sweeping high-speed bends and a lower speed, but highly technical infield section that would allow the less powerful machinery to close up the gaps.
The international motorsport venue was the first purpose built race track in the UK since the famous circuit of Brooklands was opened back in 1907, and 2011 marks the 10 year anniversary of the circuit that lays claim to being “Europe’s Fastest Racing Circuit”. This is due to the yet unbeaten lap record for the 1.5 mile oval set on the 22nd September 2001 by Tony Kanaan in his Ford/Lola Champ Car. The resulting record stands at 24.719 seconds at an average speed of 215.397mph! not something any of the Classic Thunder entrants would be close to beating.
Rockingham's International Super Sportscar Circuit is the layout used by the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, whose recent event saw the fastest lap set by Frank Wrathall in the DynoJet Toyota Avensis with a 1.24.550.
Pre Race:
Following Cadwell, it was a pleasant surprise to find out that Vaughan had received “Driver of the Day” for his part in the “Classic Thunder” event at Cadwell, so thank you to “Track Driver” for their award.
In addition to this, the car needed a bit of work before we ventured out at Rockingham.
A new Screen was needed, following the appearance of a huge crack due to flying debris, and the brake cooling was also on the receiving end of some cosmetic changes. The oils in the engine, gearbox and diff’s were also replaced as a preventative measure.
Without the use of the motor home come service van, we’d have to attend Rockingham with limited tools and spares, which nearly came back to bite us.
Race Day:
Having never raced at Rockingham before, it would take some time to set the car up and for Vaughan to get accustomed to the circuit. With the challenges of the high speed banking, along with the tricky infield section, qualifying would be a hard fought task.
With the mercury rising, it was decided to change the car’s settings to allow for maximum airflow into the engine bay.
We checked the suspension and made some minor adjustments to the camber to get what we thought would be the best set up. The tyre pressures were also lowered in an attempt to keep them from overheating later on in the session.
Qualifying:
Class A4 was made up of:
12. Ian Froggatt Subaru Impreza RA
16. Vaughan Fletcher Subaru Impreza RA
We rolled onto the circuit at the start to “Turn 1” ahead of Keith Butcher and his super quick Nissan Primera Super Touring.
With 31 cars on circuit, it didn’t take long to be among traffic as they looked to set their own fastest lap time. Fortunately around the banking, the Subaru could stretch its legs and power past some of the slower machinery without them causing any hold ups.
5 laps from the end, we started to encounter problems with the brakes, and they needed pumping to get a pedal firm enough to scrub off the speed carried around some of the quicker sections of the circuit.
Qualified 1st in class
Qualified 6th overall
Fastest lap: 1.30.982 on lap 5 of 9
Checking the condition of the tyre’s showed that there were some small changes we could do to help the car’s handling, but the pressing issue was that we had no brakes and not enough spare fluid to bleed the system fully. (Oh, there was plenty in the motor home!)
There were no obvious signs why the brakes should have stopped working, so bleeding them was the only reasonable solution.
Thankfully fellow competitor Craig Rainer from the “Pro-Driver Blue Oval Saloons” became our saviour with enough fluid to complete the task.
Round 12:
With 28 cars on the grid, getting clean away would be the key to holding position, or indeed making up a place or two around the banked circuit.
On the outside of the circuit, and alongside Joss Ronchetti in the “Bullet”, we knew it’d be hard fought to overhaul him, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
As the safety car peeled into the pits, and the lights went out, the thunderous roar of all 29 cars echoed around the bowl of the Rockingham circuit and everyone peeled around “Turn 1” for the first time.
Andy Robinson in his Australian Falcon touring car, used all of the V8’s torque to slingshot him into the lead.
Vaughan held his position on the banking, before dropping down for the first corner “Denne”.
With everyone safely through, Vaughan soon caught up with Joss, and challenged for 5th place on the run into “Chapman Curve”, however when Vaughan checked his mirrors, the front of the Bullet was just far alongside to allow him to take the line and Vaughan chose to ease off instead of risking contact with his fellow competitor.
Coming up from behind was the Sierra Cosworth of Graham Wait, who looked up the inside at “Tarzan”, but was unable to pass as Vaughan accelerated up towards the “Brook” chicane. Graham retired the following lap with a very smokey engine.
Fellow A4 competitor Ian Froggatt then began to close up on Vaughan, and was visibly quicker around the banking, however he was unable to capitalise on his advantage. Battling over the course of several laps the duo drove a close fought, but clean race. Unfortunately, mechanical gremlins crept in and Ian was forced to retire on lap 8.
For the remaining laps, Vaughan drove through traffic, closing up to the 5th place Alfa of Adrian Hawkings and Keith Butcher who was marginally ahead in 4th place.
With a 3 way battle for 4th place, the traffic was working in Vaughan’s favour, however the loss of braking again meant the last few laps required more concentration than normal to anticipate each move, and combined with the tyres beginning to lose their grip, a finish was more important than the risk of a DNF due to going off.
Finished 1st in class
Finished 6th overall
Fastest lap: 1.32.112 sec on lap 10 of 10
Summary
It’s thought that the heat from the Turbo, combined with the temperature on the day had boiled the fluid in the brake master cylinder, so this will be one of the area’s we will look at for next season.
The tyres showed the set up still wasn’t 100% for the circuit, so again we will take those learning’s with us.
A thoroughly enjoyable day’s racing, with equally enjoyable results. Roll on 2012.
Pictures thanks to Lindsey Bridger
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